Malfy Gin Con Limone

Imagine the bright citrus punch of Limoncello in a classic Dry Gin.

Biggar and Leith is a revitalization of an 18th century spirits business founded by the great-great-great-grandfather of the current owner — a Mr. Thomas Gladstone — in Edinburgh. The current iteration of Biggar and Leith is based in New York where they manage their small portfolio of adult beverages which are produced locally and mixed and aged under contract with distilleries in Cognac, France; Turin, Italy; and other regional producers.

The area around Torino (Turin) Italy is famous for their specialty liqueurs. Carpano, Cinzano, and Martini & Rossi are all based nearby. So is Torino Distillati — a family-owned producer of very high-quality spirits for generations and where Malfi Gin con Limone is made. The location is perfect since they wanted to use Italian lemon as the fruit-forward component of their new Gin. The name comes from the famous “Amalfi Coast” region of southern Italy and Sicily where they grow some of the best citrus in the world. The rest of the ingredients include juniper (of course) and five other botanicals — including coriander, angelica root, and cassia bark.

Smartass Corner:
The Dutch and English would debate the point — well, they might actually get pretty angry about it — but Gin was invented in Italy during the 11th century when cloistered monks added Italian Ginepro (juniper) to their distillation. Dutch Genever came about 200 years later. Let the fighting begin.